
The 1872 Bendigo goldfield registry (available online) includes descriptions and plans of many of the local mines, reefs and goldfields. Robert Brough Smyth's 1869 book The gold fields and mineral districts of Victoria (available online) includes information about the geology and mining history of all major Victorian goldfields.

The early histories of many goldfields towns are summarised in Flett's book The history of gold discovery in Victoria. For example, James Flett's detailed studies of Maryborough and Dunolly are well worth reading if you're researching the history of mining around those towns. These books often include information about goldfields and mining in the local area. Weapons include regular revolvers, rifles and shotguns, but also a few outlandish prototypes.When you're researching goldfields towns and diggings, start by searching our catalogue by place, district or shire name, to see if any local histories have been published. The several choices during scenarios eventually lead to multiple endings. It is however possible to return and subdue again every few turns. Subdued enemies can be used for a stealth approach, but when they wake up they will immediately alert nearby enemies. Other actions are shooting, reloading and subduing enemies. The player can rotate the camera and zoom out for instance to access buildings with multiple floors. At day characters hiding behind objects can often be spotted by their shadows. When they are nearby sound often reveals a general location. Certain card combinations, modeled after poker hands, provide powerful combinations with additional bonusesĮnemies are only revealed when in the line of sight and then disappear right away when characters can no longer see them. These provide abilities such as shadow generation while using cover, more luck, transfusing luck for health, having bullets ricochet etc. These cards (perks) are earned gradually and several can be equipped for each character. Rather than relying on classes, for every combat sequence characters can be customized through several weapons, items such as boots and elixirs, and most importantly ability cards.

#Hard west prospecting windows
The game emphasizes using a cover system with objects, doors, windows and obstacles that highly influence the hit chance, combined with the distance, whether the line of fire is obstructed and the type of weapon. The amount of luck has a large influence on the hit percentage, but missing shots reduces it, encouraging players to get closer for better hits. Characters have action points for movement and actions, health, several guns, abilities, and luck as a very important factor for success. These story and RPG sequences are always shown on a map with icons, text and dialogue choices.Ĭombat takes place in small environments where both sides take turns. It is also possible to trade tobacco and liquor across settlements. Players can use the gold to invest in additional weapons and items, including bartering, but it is possible to invest in advanced mining technique as well, for chances of more gold. For instance, Warren has several ways to try and lift a curse for his father, other families will ask for help with no immediate return, and there are several mines that can be entered with limited permits using different techniques providing varying yields of gold. Using icons, different locations on a map can be visited with role-playing elements for conversations, small quests and many encounters that involve choices and consequences. Every scenario generally has the player starting over again, as advancements are not shared between scenarios.īetween the several combat sequences the story unfolds gradually. While several scenarios continue the main story with Warren at the center, there are several spin-off scenarios, like vignettes, that introduce additional, separate characters, but with many common elements for the themes and stories. Oregon was never reached and they tried their hand at farming instead, also prospecting mines to collect enough gold to aim for Oregon again. The game then starts several years later when the son, Warren, has grown into the man. The father has to rescue her, which is played as an interactive tutorial. In a small village along the way, overrun by outlaws, the mother is kidnapped. The main story has frontier themes and tells how a couple and their son travel the Oregon Trail. From the main menu eight scenarios can be unlocked eventually, with three difficulty settings and optional modifiers such as combat injuries (debuffs for damaged characters, but stronger over time) and ironman where the entire scenario needs to be restarted if a critical character is killed.

The player controls up to four characters through several scenarios with mechanics reminiscent of the X-COM games. Hard West is a turn-based strategy game in a western setting combined with some supernatural elements.
